Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) union members have voted to ratify a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-02-13/njasap-netjets-reach-agreement-principle">tentative agreement</a> reached earlier this year with fractional-share aircraft operator NetJets. The vote ratifies amendments to the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between NetJets and the pilot union that represents the company's roughly 3,100 pilots.
According to a joint statement, “This ratification concludes a year of voluntary negotiations, highlighted by a shared commitment to reach a successful outcome. We are grateful for this joint undertaking and look forward to focusing on the exceptional travel experiences our owners expect and deserve.”
The vote came after a contentious series of back-and-forth disputes and legal challenges between NJASAP and NetJets, including accusations of a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-01-22/netjets-and-pilots-union-trade-slowdown-accusations">union slowdown</a> and the union’s denial of such actions. While the CBA extends until 2029, NetJets had agreed to voluntary interim bargaining and made offers to the union that were rejected because it didn’t believe the salary increases matched recent gains for airline pilots, including quality-of-life gains. NetJets has seen some pilots leave for airline jobs, although the union and the operator disagreed about attrition numbers.
NetJets and NJASAP declined to provide further details of the recent agreement. They did announce the tentative agreement in February, and the vote ratified that agreement.&nbsp;
AIN has obtained a copy of the term sheet for the tentative agreement. Some of the terms covered include:
• Parental leave up to six months for a pregnant crewmember; up to three months for crewmember whose spouse/domestic partner gives birth or adopts.
• Improved overtime rules for last day of tour.
• Loss-of-medical insurance increased to $6,500 per month.
• Base wage increases 23 percent on May 1; 6 percent on May 1, 2025; and 4 percent each subsequent year through 2029. Wage scales have been adjusted to 14 years, and annual longevity bonuses or 4 percent are reflected in that 14-year scale.
• Tour-based flight pay grows to $200 on July 1 and climbs to $210 through 2029, followed by 2 percent annual increases. The resulting wage increases “equate to more than 51 percent over the life of the agreement,” according to the term sheet.
• A crewmember who requests an unscheduled rest period can remain on duty if making the request after completing a 12-hour duty day, but this won’t be required. If requesting the unscheduled rest before completing 12 hours of duty, the crewmember can but isn’t required to continue with more than 12 hours of duty.
• NetJets is increasing 401(k) matching contributing by 66 percent effective Jan. 1, 2025, increasing by 1 percent per year to 71 percent effective Jan. 1, 2030.

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NetJets Pilot Union Votes To Ratify Tentative Agreement

The agreement includes salary increases and quality-of-life improvements

The vote came after a contentious series of back-and-forth disputes and legal challenges between NJASAP and NetJets, including accusations of a union slowdown. 

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